PITTSBURGH JAZZ

From Blakey to Brown, Como to Costa, Eckstine to Eldridge, Galbraith to Garner, Harris to Hines, Horne to Hyman, Jamal to Jefferson, Kelly to Klook; Mancini to Marmarosa, May to Mitchell, Negri to Nestico, Parlanto Ponder, Reed to Ruther, Strayhorn to Sullivan, Turk to Turrentine, Wade to Williams… the forthcoming publication Treasury of Pittsburgh Jazz Connections by Dr. Nelson Harrison and Dr. Ralph Proctor, Jr. will document the legacy of one of the world’s greatest jazz capitals.

Do you want to know who Dizzy Gillespie idolized? Did you ever wonder who inspired Kenny Clarke and Art Blakey? Who was the pianist that mentored Monk, Bud Powell, Tad Dameron, Elmo Hope, Sarah Vaughan and Mel Torme? Who was Art Tatum’s idol and Nat Cole’s mentor? What musical quartet pioneered the concept adopted later by the Modern Jazz Quartet? Were you ever curious to know who taught saxophone to Stanley Turrentine or who taught piano to Ahmad Jamal? What community music school trained Robert McFerrin, Sr. for his history-making debut with the Metropolitan Opera? What virtually unknown pianist was a significant influence on young John Coltrane, Shirley Scott, McCoy Tyner, Bobby Timmons and Ray Bryant when he moved to Philadelphia from Pittsburgh in the 1940s? Would you be surprised to know that Erroll Garner attended classes at the Julliard School of Music in New York and was at the top of his class in writing and arranging proficiency?

Some answers can be gleaned from the postings on the Pittsburgh Jazz Network.

For almost 100 years the Pittsburgh region has been a metacenter of jazz originality that is second to no other in the history of jazz. One of the best kept secrets in jazz folklore, the Pittsburgh Jazz Legacy has heretofore remained mythical. We have dubbed it “the greatest story never told” since it has not been represented in writing before now in such a way as to be accessible to anyone seeking to know more about it. When it was happening, little did we know how priceless the memories would become when the times were gone.

Today jazz is still king in Pittsburgh, with events, performances and activities happening all the time. The Pittsburgh Jazz Network is dedicated to celebrating and showcasing the places, artists and fans that carry on the legacy of Pittsburgh's jazz heritage.

It's the best way to get rid of your Winter Blues!Michele & The Bensen Burner Bandbring some sizzle to the days of bleak mid winter! Join us for an evening of some hot jazz and soulful blues.Doors open at 6:30, Jazz Concert at 8:00 p.m.Tickets $20 / Cash bar with wine, beer at snacks in the Library & Music Hall's StudioMichele's CD's will be available during intermission and after the concert. …See More

‘SOUTHSIDE’ JERRY sings and plays Blues, Jazz, R&B (including Disco) and Pop Standards in support of The Bobby Short Reunion Band @ JIMMY K’s GRILLE (This Is An Open Invitation). Bobby Short (drums & vocals) and Bob Vallecorsa (organ)See More

The RML Jazz Quartet returns to Little E's Jazz Club downtown on Friday, 11/21/14, at 8:00pm. The quartet will feature Mike Clancy on saxes/flute, Jeff Leonhardt on guitar, Glenn Utsch on keyboard, and Rick Laus on drums. Come on out and enjoy a night of jazz smooth and hot with RML Jazz.See More

Profile Information

Marva Josie...has earned acclaim as a "Gifted" vocalist from the best of Jazz to those of Operatic and Classical renown. Her soaring 5 1/2 octave range is an example of her ability to take a listener in any direction...much due to her training from the age of eight in Opera and the Classics. She gave her first concert at age nine while a student of music and dance at Clairton, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh, where many greats in music received their acclaim...such as: George Benson, Lena Horne, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Erroll Garner, Billy Eckstine, Mary Lou Williams, Shirley Jones, etc. She is proud to join the list.

Favorite Pittsburgh musicians/performers

Dr. Nelson Harrison, Howie Alexander, Frank Wible,
Spider Rondinelli,

Favorite Jazz Radio or media station

WDUQ, WQED,

Favorite Pittsburgh Jazz Venue

Little E's

About Me:

Marva Josie...Considered by Music Critics and her fans throughout the world as "The Singer" with the unique gift of being able to use her voice as a truce, a pure instrument... an "Interpreter of Songs."

Marva Josie...has a style that can take you to all heights, through many times and places with her believable choices of songs, from the best of standards to Pop/Jazz sounds of the past, present, and, definetly the future...She can move an audience with the sounds of Big bands, or acoustically with just the accompaniment of guitar, rhythm, or just a Baby Grand Piano...She is The Queen of Vocal Control, as only the trained and experienced can accomplish.

She has also performed as an "invited" guest soloist at the White House for Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, and for such notables as the Shah of Iran, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, President of France Giscard D'Estaing. She has also appeared as a guest singer on the Johnny Carson Tonight Show, Good Morning America, and the Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, and Joe Franklin syndicated TV shows. Foreign television appearances include Italy, Germany, Australia, and Brazil, among others, as both a soloist and with the Earl Hines Orchestra.

Marva Josie...has the unique ability to bring a song to its lyrical and musical best...She is also trained as an actress, enabling her to become an innovative "interpreter" of lyrics. She performed in many "off-Broadway" plays while studying Voice Harmony, and Theory, during her stay in New York City, and put her administrative and creative abilities to use behind the mike and behind the scenes in theater, video, and record production.
She also became involved in the production side of theater and recordings. Her many albums as soloist and featured vocalist with Earl Hines are treasured "gems" by record collectors all over the world.

Her current album is being produced by manager/producer Lee Magid, who has guided the careers of such notables in music as Della Reese, Lou Rawls, Gloria Lynne, Earl Grant, Al Hibbler, Marlena Shaw, O.C. Smith, etc., and now...a singer to be reckoned with.

Marva Josie is now "on a roll"...a singer that cannot be categorized...a singer that can sing anything...in any groove...be it Classical, Jazz Sweet, Soulful, Bluesy, Operatic, or Popular...a style one never forgets because of its sincerity, lyrical, sensitivity, melodic tonality, and feelingd that lead up to the vocal power of Marva Josie. Her voice is the individual and original instrument composers yearn for. She's a singer in a class of her own.

Marva Josie has a universal approach that is embraced all over the world. She;s adaptable and in control any place there's the sound of music...She is a Chameleon of Sound with a voice that will captivate listeners of all cultures and all ages for all time.

Marva Josie is a contemporary voice that will forever be recognised...heard beyond the city sounds of Pittsburgh, or the street and horn sounds of New York City...to the great Concert Halls of Carnegie, Lincoln, Kennedy, and London's Royal Albert, to the far off Symphony Halls of the world...The singer of notes...named...Marva Josie.

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I´d really appreciate it if you could take the time to look at my work and leave your impressions here or in the guestbook on my homepage -http://www.miartemartagracielabressi.webs.com/- where there are more samples of my digital art works, engravings and sculptures. The web site´s in Spanish but, if you want to read the texts in English, you can access my Livejournal:

Hey how have you been??? I have heard many things in the past few weeks and one of was that you were going to open a restraunt in McKeesport is this true??? would love to learn more about this and if I could help out where ever I can or where my experience will allow me too... ;) you have my number its the same as before...